By Mark Wineka
mwineka@salisburypost.com
Salisbury City Council voted last week to allow an exhaust fan and compressor unit to protrude from the side of the building at 115 E. Innes St.
The projections from the building will extend toward the adjacent alley. The fan and compressor are needed for a restaurant planning to locate in the first floor of the building, owned by Diane and Michael Young.
When in place, the new elements will allow a 10-foot, 6-inch clearance for trucks. The fan and compressor will extend about 4 feet into the alley.
A Fire Department representative looked at the clearance that will be available and judged that it would use other access points to the buildings that are better than the narrow alley.
Mayor Susan Kluttz said her major concern was Fire Department access and was satisfied that the projections would not hamper any firefighting efforts.
Otherwise, Kluttz said, she could live with perhaps inconveniencing some tall trucks in exchange for having a new downtown business.
Councilmen Bill Burgin and Mark Lewis said they would like to see an overhead sign in the alley to warn vehicles of the low clearance.
Mayor Pro Tem Paul Woodson noted that if any trucks hit the fan or compressor, it would be the Youngs’ expense anyway to have them replaced.
In other city business, council:
– Recognized city employee Craig Powers, who recently received his professional engineering license from the state.
To obtain the license, Powers first earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, logged four years of experience, provided evidence that he was “of good character and reputation” and successfully completed two eight-hour exams.
Powers is a graduate of North Rowan High School, where he was a three-sport athlete.
– Approved a conditional district overlay for Competitive Sports Properties at 625 Corporate Circle. The approval will allow the facility to build a 10,000-square-foot addition, to be used as a youth sports training facility.